Flexible plastic articles bearing polymeric slip coatings and having raised/recessed roughness on their surfaces

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an article, in particular a glove, a condom, or the like, which is comprised of a flexible rubber and/or plastic, is embodied having at least one section of the surface intended contact or rest against human skin, which article is provided with a slip coating in a section of the surface. This slip coating is comprised of a polymeric material and at least in sections, has repeating shape deviations of the surface that are recessed in relation to a raised, net-like structure. The ratio of the average spacings between the shape deviations to their depth in relation to the raised, net-like structure is between 500:1 and 5:1 and the average roughness depth is between 0.5 and 100 μm, preferably between 1 and 40 μm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 ofAustrian Patent Application No. 1620/96 filed Sep. 12, 1996, thedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention describes an article made of a flexible rubber and/orplastic as well as a process for making this article.

Many flexible articles that are untreated on the surface, particularlythose made of plastic and rubber, have a relatively high degree offriction resistance in relation to human skin. This is why untreatedrubber gloves, for example, are almost impossible to put on. In order tomake it easier to put these gloves on, glove powder (e.g. starch powder,talcum, etc.) is conventionally deposited as a parting compound on theinside of the glove. The use of powder, though, is particularlyproblematic in the medical field because residual powder can lead togranule formation if it gets into open wounds. Another importantapplication field for powder-free products is the electronics industry.

A classic method for making articles of rubber and in particular, glovesthat are slippery in relation to human skin without the use of powder,involves surface chlorination. In this connection, the article istreated with aqueous, chlorine gas-containing mediums and is thenwashed. Primarily, this produces a favorable slipperiness in relation todry human skin, but this surface chlorination synthetically alters thepolymer structure and thus produces a distinct diminishing of thephysical and chemical properties of the article (strength, tearelasticity, water swelling, storability, etc.). However, surface-treatedgloves of this kind are also usually difficult to put on with wet hands.

Coating with hydrogels represents an alternative surface treatment. Somehydrogels of this kind have been known for a long time. For example,these are polyurethane, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyhydroxyethylacrylateor polyhydroxymethacrylate, polyhydroxypropylacrylate orpolyhydroxypropylmethacrylate, and are copolymers with one another orwith acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, acrylic ester or methacrylicester, or vinylpyridine.

A coating of this kind has been disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,695,which describes a dipped rubber glove that is coated on the inside witha hydrogel polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyhydroxyethacrylateor polyhydroxymethacrylate, polyhydroxypropylacrylate orpolyhydroxypropylmethacrylate, and copolymers of these with one anotheror with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. The preferred hydrogel polymeris a copolymer of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate with methacrylic acid orwith 2-ethylhexylacrylate or a ternary copolymer of2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, methacrylic acid and 2-ethylhexylacrylate.

A known manufacturing process is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,577.This patent discloses the coating of a flexible, vulcanized surgicalglove with a hydrophilic polymer, by means of which the depositing ofpowder on the inside of the glove can be omitted. The copolymer used inthis instance is comprised of a mixture of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylateand 2-ethylhexylacrylate.

Another process according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,309 discloses thedepositing of a slippery coating comprised of apolyurethane-polyvinylpyrrolidone complex. Normally with these productsor processes, the hydropolymer is deposited on the product together witha hardener in dissolved form, then the solvent is removed by drying,wherein the polymer layer is hardened, thus forming a hydrogel coating.

Other known embodiments disclose the use of vinylidene halogenidelattices or vinyl halogenide lattices for producing a slip coating onrubber articles, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,965, where the slipperyquality is mostly achieved by means of polymers that contain chlorine.

DE 26 28 059-C and U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,862 disclose the use of diverselatex mixtures for producing a slip coating. In particular, mixturescomprised of at least two latex types are used in this connection,wherein a latex type with a high elasticity is used as a bonding agentand a latex type with a high degree of hardness or low elasticity isused to obtain a sufficient slipperiness. These recipes are usually moreor less favorable compromises between slipperiness, sufficient filmflexibility, and adhesion of the film to the rubber product. Inparticular, with the use of the slip coating in very flexible, highlyelastic rubber articles, there are often problems in this connection tothe effect that the slip coatings used either begin to detach from thefoundation when stretched or do not have a satisfactory slipperiness inactual use.

In the process according to EP 0 681 912-A2, the slip coating iscomprised of a copolymer latex, which is fixed to the carrier layer withthe aid of a coagulation step. The latex is comprised of a copolymerthat contains a significant portion of hydrophilic monomer components.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,109 describes another method for producingslipperiness in relation to skin with powder-free medical gloves made ofnatural latex. In this instance, bonded cornstarch particles orpolyethylene particles are deposited in a carrier layer, wherein thecarrier layer is thinner than the diameter of the particles and theparticles protrude from the surface. The powder particles bonded in thismanner produce a sufficient slipperiness of the glove interior. Thisembodiment for achieving slipperiness in relation to skin has problemswhen the product is stretched to a great degree, which is inevitablewhen putting on latex medical gloves: The surface-bonded particlesdetach easily and the powder-free nature is no longer assured.

All of the above-described powder-free articles can only be producedwith satisfactory product properties only under the most preciseadherence to the affiliated process requirements and material recipes.While a favorable slipperiness of the surfaces in relation to dry skinis usually achieved with ease, very often there are difficulties in thereproducibility with regard to wet slipperiness. In particular withthin-walled flexible articles, which must have favorable slipperinesseven when stretched to a great degree, it often takes years ofhigh-precision optimization on the part of the manufacturer, who usuallyhas to adopt compromises with regard to diverse product properties.Despite the use of polymeric slip coating hydrogels, the surface isfrequently lightly chlorinated. Other manufacturers, in spite of thepolymer slip coatings, use additional small quantities of glove powder.Still other producers see themselves as confronted with constantfluctuations with regard to the wet slipperiness of their products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the current invention is to produce articles made ofplastic and/or rubber, which have a favorable slipperiness in relationto human skin, particularly wet skin, and to develop a process which canbe easily reproduced.

This is attained by an article made of a flexible rubber or plastic,such as a glove, a condom, or the like, which includes a surface sectionthat contacts or rests against human skin, and which is provided with aslip coating in a section of the surface that is comprised of apolymeric material and has at least a partial area having repeatingsurface shape deviations that are recessed in relation to a raised,net-like structure, where the ratio of the average spacings between theshape deviations to their depth, in relation to the raised, net-likestructure, is between 500:1 and 5:1 and the average roughness depth isbetween 0.5 and 100 μm, preferably between 1 and 40 μm. In thisconnection, it is advantageous that the flexible products with theraised net structure and the recessed faces and the slightly roughenedsurface constituted by this have a significantly better slipperinessthan smooth slip coatings, primarily in relation to wet human skin. Thisis particularly true for wet slipperiness, which is often difficult toachieve. A further advantage of the current invention is that avoidingocclusive skin contact makes wearing the articles more comfortable,improves their ability to be taken off, and if necessary, significantlyimproves their absorption of sweat. It is also significant that as aresult of the rigorous reduction of the contact area between skin andpolymer, in many cases, a significantly improved skin compatibility canbe expected. In addition, allergic reactions are reduced and there is noconfined feeling after the product is put on. It is advantageous thatthe roughened surface morphology according to the invention can beproduced without additional mechanical or chemical treatment, such asembossing or chlorinating processes, and can also be produced, forexample without the addition of a parting compound, e.g. powder orsilicone. As a result, a favorable slipperiness can also be achievedusing less optimal slip coating polymers. When a roughened surfacestructure is maintained, a favorable slipperiness can be achieved inboth the wet and dry states.

According to another aspect of the invention, the flexible article ischaracterized in that between 50 and 90%, preferably between 60 and 80%,of the partial area's repeating surface shape deviations are recessed.This is also advantageous since the wealth of micro-cavities formed inthis manner can considerably reduce the friction potential or thecontact area between the article and human skin.

According to another aspect of the invention, the flexible article ischaracterized in that at least 50% of the shape deviations, according toa top view of the slip coating, are encompassed on all sides by thenet-like structure. This assures that a large part of the slip coatingis kept at a distance from the skin by the net-like structure, even whenthe article is being worn, in which state the article is slightlystretched or drawn taut, so that in spite of the roughening, on the onehand, the user does not get the feeling that the article is chafing hisskin and on the other hand, the movement of the hand, for example of thefingers, is not hindered since the slip coating or the partial surfaceof the slip coating does not stick to the wet skin.

The flexible article gives the skin a comfortable feeling if the slipcoating comprises at least one natural and/or synthetic latex, or if theslip coating comprises a latex mixture and is fixed to the surface ofthe carrier layer.

Favorable properties for the slip coating and a firm adhesion of it tothe carrier layer are achieved according to another aspect of theinvention if the slip coating material comprises polyurethane.

A favorable skin compatibility for articles is achieved according toanother aspect of the invention where the slip coating materialcomprises polyacrylates and/or polymethacrylates and/or polysiloxanes orother comparable products.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, surface roughness thatis caused by the corresponding secondary treatment through chemicaland/or physical reactions can be easily produced where the slip coatingcomprises 0 to 30 wt. % polyurethane, 1 to 40 wt. % polyacrylate, 1 to20 wt. % polysiloxane, and 0 to 40 wt. % filler. Such surface roughnessmay be produced where the filler material comprises pulverized orpowdered materials such as chalk, lime, cornstarch, silicon dioxide,and/or gypsum.

According to yet another aspect of the current invention, the use of apolymeric material in a slip coating that contains water absorbinggroups makes the flexible articles particularly comfortable propertiesfor people who perspire a lot.

According to still another aspect of the invention, perspirationretention on the surface of the skin can be better controlled in theregion of the roughened surfaces in the sections, since the glove canabsorb a higher quantity of moisture, where the polymeric material ofthe slip coating comprises intensely hydrophilic groups, for exampleacrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and/or an acrylate and/or amethacrylate.

According to another aspect of the invention, a favorable connectionwith the slip coating in the sections can be achieved where the slipcoating material has high surface adhesion and preferably is notcross-linked.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the wet slipperinessof the articles can be additionally improved where silicone is depositedonto the regions of the slip coating which have surface roughening.

According to still another aspect of the invention, uniform slipbehavior of the article is achieved where silicone is deposited ontoregions of the slip coating.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a very thin coating ofsilicone that increases slipperiness while at the same time preventingadhesion of the recesses, is achieved where the silicone on the surfacesections of the slip coating is between 0.05 and 3 g/m², preferably 0.25g/m².

According to another aspect of the invention, a slip coating or coatingsis or are deposited on the inner surface of a sleeve-like carrier layer.According to yet another aspect of the invention, the slip coating is orare deposited on the outer surface of the sleeve-like carrier layer.According to still another aspect of the invention, the averageroughness depth is lower in sections having lower relative movementbetween the flexible article and the skin of the user. These featuresprovide slipperiness and slip properties as well as a roughness thatcorresponds, for example, to the grasping of tools or articles used inthe assembly field.

According to another aspect of the invention, it is advantageous whereat least one layer of the carrier layer is comprised of a latex product,which contains a polymer, e.g. a natural and/or synthetic latex since itcan be used to produce extremely thin and extremely elastic articlesthat are also very resilient.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the quality of theflexible articles can be considerably improved where the slip coating isprovided on a carrier layer comprised of at least one layer, whichpreferably is slightly cross-linked. According to still another aspectof the invention, the latex of the carrier layer is pre-cross-linked.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the article has a highdegree of elasticity and suppleness where the carrier layer comprises anaqueous solution of a coagulant, which contains calcium nitrate,polyethylene glycol, a water soluble silicone or chalk, and apre-cross-linked natural latex mixture.

According to another aspect of the invention, to make the carrier layerresistant the carrier layer contains a pre-cross-lined synthetic latex,e.g. chloroprene latex, NBR latex, X-NBR latex, or SBR latex.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the carrier layer isembodied in a sleeve-like article having an outer surface and an innersurface which can be used to adapt the roughness of the individualsurfaces or sections to the various intended uses of the article.According to another aspect of the invention, at least one surfacesection is disposed on the inner surface of the article, particularly ofthe glove, to achieve the intended roughness. Moreover, according toanother aspect of the invention, at least one surface section isdisposed on the outer surface of an article, particularly of a glove,which achieves the intended roughness.

According to another aspect of the invention, chlorinating the carrierlayer on its surface further improves the effect of the roughness in theregion of the carrier layer, or it produces at least a partialimprovement of the slip properties in those regions where there is noroughening. Further, the raised edge regions of the chlorinated surfacedeformations caused by the chlorination may protrude above theneighboring surface zones by a height of 0.5 to 10 μm, preferably lessthan 1 μm.

According to another aspect of the invention, the inner surface of theslip coating of the article is provided with at least one of a coatingof silicone and a treatment with chlorine, to cause preferred grading ofthe roughness and of the slipperiness of the flexible article in itsvarious regions.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the flexible articlemay be a rubber glove. According to yet another aspect of the invention,the article may be a medical glove.

Universal adaptations of adhesion, grip security, or slipperiness andwet slipperiness are achieved, according to another aspect of theinvention, where the slip coating is deposited on the inner surface ofthe rubber glove or the medical glove. Further, only a section of theslip coating may have shape deviations in the region of its surface.Moreover, the surfaces of the rubber gloves or the medical gloves thatare oriented toward the palm of the hand, or the back of the hand, maybe provided with a slip coating, and if need be, at least sections ofthis slip coating may be provided with the surface shape deviations.Further, an outer surface of the rubber or latex glove may be providedwith shape deviations where the ratio of the spacings of adjacent shapedeviations to their depth is between 100:1 and 5:1, and their averageroughness depth is between 0.5 and 100 μm, and preferably between 1 and40 μm. Moreover, sections of the outer surface of the rubber glove orthe medical gloves according to the invention may be provided with aslip coating and have surface shape deviations, at least in the regionof the slip coating.

The invention also includes a process for manufacturing a flexiblearticle, in particular a glove, where a carrier layer is made of plasticand/or rubber, and at least one section of its surface that has a slipcoating, which is provided with a roughness in the region of its surfaceremote from the carrier layer. Moreover, where the slip coating isapplied to the carrier layer by means of dipping and is driedimmediately afterward, preferably for 10 to 600 sec. by means of hotair, and then the slip coating is treated with water at a temperaturebetween 40 and 100° C., preferably between 60 and 80° C., or is rinsedwith the hot water so that afterwards, the water content of the slipcoating is reduced by approx. 40 to 70%, preferably 50 to 60%, such thata slip coating in a section of the surface is comprised of a polymericmaterial with at least a partial area having repeating surface shapedeviations that are recessed in relation to a raised, net-likestructure. The individual, succeeding measures produce a distortion inthe surface of the slip coating and therefore produce the sinking of therecesses, which represent the deviations in shape, in relation to theintermediary pieces of the net-like structure that remain at theoriginal height, by means of which a higher wearing comfort is producedby the higher elasticity, primarily when moving the fingers, and theslipperiness of the article is additionally improved in relation tohuman skin, above all when it is wet. Furthermore, the rougheningsproduced during the manufacturing process do not absolutely requireadditional treatment such as a subsequent chlorination or theapplication of a parting compound or the like.

According to another aspect of the invention, the flexible article isexposed to infrared radiation immediately following the draining periodafter the rinsing of the article with the hot water, and this permitsthe roughened structure that appears during the course of the dryingprocess on the top side of the slip face or the net-like structure ofintermediary pieces, which protrude by the measure of between 0.5 μm and100 μm above the deviations in shape that are sunk with the dehydration,to produce a support grid that is supported on the surface of the skinand reduces the contact area between the skin and the article, withoutproducing an uncomfortable scratchy effect that is felt when the surfaceis too rough.

The high temperature of the emitting body that gives off the infraredradiation, such as stove tiles, which may have temperatures of between350° C. and 700° C., permits rapid stabilization of the surfacedeformations without causing the net-like structure to be reformed.

According to another aspect of the invention, by exposing the article toinfrared radiation for between 1 and 5 minutes, the chemical reaction isfinished in the entire article, both in the carrier layer and in theslip coating, and a secure connection is produced between these layers.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the sunken shapedeviations produced by the dehydration are prevented from leveling outagain as a result of a uniform distribution of, for example, thegelatinous fluid over the coating before they are permanently fixed,where the draining period between the rinsing of the article with thehot water and the application of infrared radiation is between 10 and180 seconds, preferably between 20 and 50 seconds. The flexible may alsobe subjected to hot air during the draining period.

A favorable adhesion between the carrier layer and the slip coating isachieved according to yet another aspect of the invention, when duringthe drying of the coagulation solution of the latex product and/or theslip coating, which is preferably carried out with hot air, the surfaceof the latex product and/or the slip coating is converted from a liquidstate into the gelatinous or solid state. Such adhesion also may beachieved when the drying of the surface of the latex product and/or theslip coating is carried out at a temperature from 70 to 140° C.,preferably at a temperature from 90 to 110° C. Further, the dryingprocess of the latex product and the slip coating may take between 10and 80 seconds, preferably between 15 and 60 seconds.

According to another aspect of the invention, rapid dehydration of theslip coating accompanied by a more pronounced sinking of the shapedeviation in relation to the net-like structure is achieved where thetemperature of the hot water for rinsing the slip coating is between 40and 95° C., preferably between 70 and 90° C., and the treatment lastsfor 15 sec. to 8 min., preferably 30 sec. to 4 min.

According to still another aspect of the invention, the use of a slipcoating comprised of a dispersion containing at least one polymericmaterial, increases skin compatibility and simplifies the manufacture ofshape deviations that are sunken in relation to the net-like structure.

According to another aspect of the invention, a composition ofdispersion is comprised of a mixture containing 0 to 30 wt. % of apolyurethane dispersion, 1 to 40 wt. % of a polyacrylate dispersion, 1to 20 wt. % of a polysiloxane dispersion, and 0 to 10 wt. % filler, andthe remaining portion water, encourages the formation of the net-likestructure and the recesses that constitute the shape deviations.Moreover, the filler may comprise powdered or pulverized materials suchas chalk, lime, cornstarch, silicon dioxide, and/or gypsum. Further, theviscosity of the dispersion of the slip coating may be between 5 and 30mPa.'s, preferably 7 to 11 mPa.'s.

According to still another aspect of the invention, the roughness iscreated by the form surfaces on the carrier layer, which can improve theproduction of roughness in the carrier layer and/or the slip coating orin sections of them. According to another aspect of the invention, therecesses are produced by the pressing-in of fine beads or bysandblasting can improve the roughness of the carrier layer and/or theslip coating, or in sections of them.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a slip coating,preferably comprising silicone, is deposited onto the roughened surfacesof the flexible article.

Finally, according to yet another aspect of the invention, the shapedeviation of the outer surface of the glove, in particular of a rubberor latex glove, as a result of the depositing of the carrier materialonto a form whose surface has shape deviations in which the ratio of thespacings of adjacent shape deviations to their depth is between 100: 1and 5:1, and the average roughness depth is between 0.5 and 100 μm,preferably between 1 and 40 μm, improves the handling of tools ormachine parts or components, particularly if these gloves are used inthe assembly of electronic components or clean room parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in detail below in conjunction with exemplaryembodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional, simplified schematic diagram of a part of anarticle according to the invention, with a slip face and a correspondingroughness;

FIG. 2 is a partial section through a top view of an article accordingto the invention, in the form of a glove;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic representation of an end view of thearticle according to FIG. 2, cut along line III—III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic representation of a part of the courseof the process according to the invention for manufacturing an article;

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic representation of another part of thecourse of the process for manufacturing an article;

FIG. 6 is simplified schematic representation of a sectional end view ofa porcelain form with the layers deposited on it for manufacturing anarticle according to the invention constituted by a glove;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the surface of the slip coating of an articleaccording to the invention, in a depiction that has been considerablyenlarged by an electron microscope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By way of introduction, it should be emphasized that in the differentexemplary embodiments described, identical parts are provided with thesame reference numerals or the same component labels, wherein thedisclosures contained in the entire specification can by analogy betransferred to identical parts with the same reference numerals or thesame component labels. Furthermore, individual features from thedifferent exemplary embodiments shown can also represent embodimentsaccording to the invention that are independent in and of themselves.

FIG. 1 shows a flexible article 1 according to the invention, which ispreferably embodied as a latex product 2. This product is comprised of acarrier layer 3, which, as is usually the case in the manufacture ofthin-walled rubber and plastic articles, is preferably formed by meansof a multiple dipping process. These articles 1 can be gloves 4, forexample medical, surgical, and experimental gloves, catheters, condoms,finger cots, bathing caps, swim fins, or protective gloves for work inclean room areas. Thin-walled articles, in particular elastic articlesmade of rubber and/or plastic such as the glove 4, for example, arepreferably obtained by dipping a form into a latex product 2, whereinthis latex product 2 can be based on natural latex and on syntheticlatex. The latex products 2 used may or may not be in a cross-linkedstate. In the case of a latex product 2 that is not cross-linked or isonly partially cross-linked, the rubber layer produced has to beadditionally vulcanized on the dipping form, by means of which a carrierlayer 3 is constituted.

Preferably a latex product 2 is used which contains at least one polymer5 that is cross-linked or is cross-linked to a large degree. This latexproduct 2 is deposited and coagulated on a dipping form 6, whichpredetermines the shape of the final product, and thus produces a thinlayer, namely the carrier layer 3 comprised of an elastic, relativelyresistant rubber material. The latex product 2 contains the usualcompounding admixtures such as sulfur, zinc oxide, organic accelerators(among others, zinc salts of dithiocarbamates, thiurams, thiourea,etc.), stabilizers, waxes, anti-aging substances, viscosity regulators,fillers, colors, etc. Natural caoutchouc and synthetic caoutchouc, whichis suitable for use in dipping processes, can be used as the latexproduct 2 for the carrier layer 3. Out of the natural and syntheticlattices, preferably natural caoutchouc, polychloroprene, syntheticpolyisoprene, nitrile-butadiene caoutchouc and stirene-butadienecaoutchouc, or a mixture of these polymers can be used.

Naturally, all other manufacturing processes, which are known to oneskilled in the art from the prior art, can be used for the carrier layer3.

It has long been known in the trade that in order to be able tomanufacture reproducible layers out of latex products on a form, acoagulant is deposited on the form, for example a ceramic form providedwith corresponding roughenings. At the same time, the form is usuallydipped into a basin or a container which contains the coagulant in fluidform. This coagulant can have any composition known from the prior art,for example alcohol solutions of calcium salts or the like. Thecoagulant also contains a parting compound such as talcum or calciumcarbonate which, if it is acid-soluble, can be leached from the surfacelayers with subsequent acid treatments so that a powder-free glove isproduced. The coagulant is then dried.

Then, the form with the preferably dried coagulant is dipped into acontainer in which the latex product 2 is kept on hand as a dispersionor fluid so that an average layer thickness of 100 μm to 300 μm isachieved. Preferably, it is also possible to dip the form into the latexproduct 2 several times in order to increase the layer thickness, wherein the mean time, a short drying of the latex layer can take place.

Because of the chemical reaction of the latex product 2 with thecoagulant, the latex product 2 deposited in fluid form hardens.Preferably, immediately after the depositing of the latex product 2 onthe form, it is dried for a short time with hot air so that the surfaceof the carrier layer 3 hardens or gels, wherein this is dried for 15 to60 sec., for example in a heating furnace or a container through whichwarm air that is conveyed at a temperature between 70° C. and 140° C. isconveyed through.

After this intermediary drying, and in the course of the above-outlineddipping process, a slip coating or layer 9 made of polymeric material 10is deposited on the dried carrier layer 3 at least in a section 7 of atop side 8 of the carrier layer 3 by means of dipping or spraying in oneor more steps. The layer thickness of this slip layer 9 can beestablished in accordance with the various requirements, in particularthe subsequently desired roughness depth and is between 2 μm and 80 μm,preferably from 2 μm to 30 μm.

This slip coating 9 can be comprised of a mixture of a number ofpolymeric materials 10 such as an aqueous polyurethane dispersion.Depending on the intended use, a polyacrylate, a polysiloxane, apolymethacrylate, a carboxylated stirene-butadiene copolymer, apolyvinylpyrrolidone, a cationic polyurethane, for example with amolecular weight of at least 100,000, can be used just like the nonionicor anionic embodiments of these above-mentioned materials. These aqueousdispersions and arbitrary mixtures of them form layers or films withfavorable basic mechanical properties and have elastic propertiessimilar to those of the carrier layer 3. Naturally, this slip coating 9can also be comprised of a mixture of several different polymericmaterials 10 in an aqueous dispersion. In this manner, the dispersion ispreferably comprised of a mixture of 0 to 30 wt. % of a polyurethanedispersion, 1 to 40 wt. % of a polyacrylate dispersion, 1 to 20 wt. % ofa polysiloxane dispersion, and 0 to 10 wt. % fillers, and the remainingportion can be comprised of water. Powdered or pulverized materials suchas chalk, lime, gypsum, silicon dioxide, and/or cornstarch can be usedas fillers. However, other mixtures can also be used for producing theslip coating 9 in the article 1 according to the invention or in theglove 4, for example 5 to 15 wt. % of a polyurethane dispersion, 1 to 8wt. % of a polyacrylate dispersion, 2 to 6 wt. % of a polysiloxanedispersion, and 4 to 6 wt. % fillers, and the remaining portion can becomprised of water, just as the mixture ratios indicated below in theindividual parentheses, in which ratios the individual contents in wt. %of the dispersions of polyurethane, polyacrylate, polysiloxane, andfillers are divided by diagonal slashes, wherein the remaining portionis brought to 100 wt. % by the addition of water. The dry content of thedispersions can be determined by one skilled in the art, wherein thesolids content can be between 30 and 50% polyurethane, between 30 and50% polyacrylate, and between 20 and 40% polysiloxane. Mixturesaccording to the present invention can include the following weightratios of polyurethane/polyacrylate/polysiloxane/filler:(2-7/4-10/3-12/0-5), (0-10/2-6/3-10/3-7), (8-18/5-15/4-7/5-10),(12-22/12-26/16-20/0-4), (17-26/18-32/10-14/2-6),(24-30/28-40/15-20/6-9), (24-30/25-35/5-10/3-7), (21-27/4-9/1-4/6-8),(21-27/12-22/3-9/4-7), (21-27/28-36/12-20/2-7), (9-12/1-3/2-6/5-9),(12-22/4-9/1-4/0-3), (17-26/5-11/7-10/0-4), (2-7/12-22/14-20/3-8),(5-15/28-36/14-20/5-10), (0-10/24-29/9-16/5-8).

In the particular instance of manufacturing dipped articles as in thecase of the article 1, its surface is usually subdivided into thedipping form side and the dipping bath side. In the current exemplaryembodiment, the dipping form side is called the underside 11 and restsagainst the dipping form 6, which can be comprised for example ofporcelain, plastic, or the like.

The dipping bath side is constituted by either the top side 8 of thecarrier layer 3 or the surface 12 of the slip coating 9. In the currentinstance, a surface 13 of the dipping form 6 is preferably provided withregularly repeating shape deviations 14. These are comprised by shapedeviations 14, for example recesses in the surface 13, or by means ofraised areas that protrude above the surface 13. A ratio of spacings 15,16 to their depth 17 is between 100:1 and 5:1. As a result, theroughness of the underside 11 of the article 1 corresponds to themorphology of the dipping form 6. The depth comes to between 0.5 and 100μm, preferably between 1 and 40 μm.

Because of the slight depth 17 of the shape deviations 14, it should beexpressly emphasized at this point that in all depictions, for the sakeof improved schematic representation of the roughness depth, these shapedeviations are shown completely out of proportion and greatly enlargedin order to be able to represent and explain the functions and also thedisposition of these shape deviations 14 and the other shape deviationsas well.

As explained in more detail below, if it is assured that a layerthickness of the carrier layer 3 as well as of the slip coating 9deposited on this is maintained in sections 7 over a large part of thearticle 1, then a corresponding roughness is also embodied on thesurface 12 of the slip layer 9 oriented toward the dipping bath side.This dipping bath side usually forms the inside of the product when itconcerns, for example, sleeve-shaped articles 1 or thin-walled rubberproducts since when the articles 1 are pulled from the dipping form 6,the products are turned inside out. Normally, the surface 12 of the sideof the article 1 that comes into contact with the skin of the user andthat should be correspondingly embodied in order to prevent skinirritations or to permit the secretion of sweat without irritating theskin. With the current article 1, it is provided that either the dippingform side or the dipping bath side or both can be equipped with acorresponding roughness. Accordingly, it is also possible that a slipcoating 9 can be disposed in sections 7, 18 on one or both sides, butcan of course also be disposed over the entire top side 8 or underside11.

Within the scope of the current invention, though, it is also possiblethat a slip coating 9 is disposed on both the top side 8 and theunderside 11, wherein this can be carried out by virtue of the fact thatafter production of the carrier layer 3, the article 1 is pulled off thedipping form 6 and put back on the same dipping form or on a differentone inside-out, that is with the top side 8 resting against the dippingform 6, in order to then likewise deposit a slip coating 9 onto theunderside 11 as well, which is now disposed on the dipping bath side.

By means of shape deviations 19, 20 in the slip coating 9, which aredisposed at least in sections 7 on the top side 8 of the carrier layer3, perspiration retention can be regulated and wearing comfort can beincreased.

The contact area between the skin and the slip coating 9 or thepolymeric material 10 should be kept as low as possible in order toprevent adhesion to human skin, which is wet for example, by means ofwhich among other things, the danger of skin irritations and possiblyallergic reactions is minimized. Furthermore, by means of the surface 12embodied according to the invention, a favorable slipperiness of theflexible articles 1 in relation to human skin and as a result, afavorable ability to be put on when wet or dry is achieved.

Furthermore, it can clearly be inferred from the depiction in FIG. 1that in relation to the shape deviations 14 in the region of theunderside 11 of the carrier layer 3, different shape deviations 19, 20are simultaneously disposed in the surface 12 of the slip coating 9.These shape deviations 19, 20 are disposed between intermediary pieces21, 22 of a net-like structure 23 or are to a large extent encompassedby them. In relation to the surface 12 of the intermediary pieces 21,22, the shape deviations 19, 20 have different depths 24, 25, whereinthese depths 24, 25 also change over the area of the shape deviations19, 20 and can possibly reach down to the carrier layer 3, as shown forexample in the shape deviation 19. The depth 24 of this shape deviation19 thus corresponds to the overall thickness of the slip coating 9,which can be between 2 and 80 μm, preferably between 2 and 30 μm.

In addition, spacings 15, 16 between the individual shape deviations 19,20 vary widely. Consequently, the ratio of the average spacings 15, 16between the individual shape deviations 19, 20 to their depths 24, 25 inrelation to the raised, net-like structure 23 or the intermediary pieces21, 22 lies between 500:1 and 5:1. The average roughness depth, forexample, lies between 0.5 and 100 μm, preferably between 1 and 40 μm.

As is furthermore schematically visible in the depiction in FIG. 1, 50to 90%, preferably 60 to 80% of the partial area or of the section 7 isdisposed as recessed by means of shape deviations 19, 20. Preferably, atleast 50% of the shape deviations 19, 20 in the top view of the slipcoating 9 are encompassed on all sides by the net-like structure 23, inparticular by the intermediary pieces 21, 22.

Furthermore, in a preferable manner, an average roughness depth of theslip coating 9 or of the partial area of the section 7 lies between 0.5and 100 μm, preferably between 1 and 40 μm. This average roughness depthrepresents the mathematical average of individual roughness depths,which are determined in five adjoining individual measured sections ofequal length, as is explained in more detail below in conjunction withthe exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2. What is achieved as a result is thata quite uniform adhesion potential or slip potential is achieved betweenthe individual regions of the surface 12 or, in the event that theunderside 11 is coated with a slip coating 9, on the surface connectedwith it, by means of which the slipperiness of the article 1 andprimarily also the wet slipperiness can be considerably improved.

This differs from the processes of the prior art in that the productproperties according to the invention are predominantly achieved via theroughness of the surface 12 or the underside 11, wherein with increasingaverage roughness depth of up to approx. 40 μm, the slipperiness inrelation to human skin increases and the stickiness of the polymersurfaces decreases.

If the surface 12 or the underside 11, which constitutes the outersurface of the glove 4 is further roughened, in most products, asubjectively uncomfortable abrasive feel gradually increases as afunction of hardness and modulus of elasticity. With roughness depths ofover 100 μm, a significant increase in the polymer-polymer frictionusually occurs and when there is abrasive contact with human skin,possibly leads to mechanically caused irritations. The surfaceproperties described here with regard to their dependency on the averageroughness depth are naturally also dependent on the type of roughnessand the type of manufacturing used to produce it, as well as the polymertype and product type and have to be individually optimized for eachpolymer type and product type. It is advantageous that individualirritation zones in the sections 7, 18 that can negatively influence thepositive overall effect of the embodiment according to the invention arefundamentally prevented by the average roughness depth, which is uniformover the sections 7 and 8, respectively.

In contrast to the surface roughnesses according to the invention,favorable slipperiness in relation to human skin can furthermore also beachieved with relatively soft polymers (e.g. polyacrylates), whereaswith conventionally smooth slip coatings having the same polymers, thereis no slipperiness in relation to skin. Because of the fact that softerpolymers having higher tensile elasticities can be used in the surfacelayers according to the invention, with thin-walled articles 1 havinghigh elasticity, the adhesion problems of the surface layer are reducedwhen the layer is stretched. Furthermore, the selection of the slipcoating polymer is made significantly easier since the main influencefactor for wearing comfort and slipperiness according to the inventionis determined by the surface morphology.

The embodiment of an article 1 in the form of a powder-free glove 4,e.g. a medical glove, is represented in the variant in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The glove 4 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown in the position itassumes when removed from the dipping form 6, wherein the surface 12,which is oriented toward the dipping bath side during production andreceives the slip coating 9, constitutes the inside of the glove 4,while the underside 11 oriented toward the dipping form 6 during theproduction of the glove 4 constitutes the outside of the glove 4.Consequently, in the case of this glove 4, on the outer surface whichthe user of the glove 4 uses to grasp tools or components, there is acorresponding average roughness depth that lies between 0.5 and 100 μm,preferably between 1 and 40 μm, and is an image of the average roughnessdepth of the surface of the dipping form 6.

In order to produce the uniform morphology, as has also already beenbriefly explained by way of introduction, the dipping form 6 is used,which is usually slightly rough and is comprised of porcelain, and whichhas an average roughness depth between 0.5 and 100 μm, preferably 1 to40 μm; it is dipped into an aqueous coagulation solution, which iscomprised of e.g. calcium nitrate, polyethylene glycol, and a watersoluble silicone type or chalk and is then dried for a short time withhot air. Then, for the depositing of the glove 4, the dipping form 6 isdipped into a for example pre-cross-linked natural latex mixture ofwhich the carrier layer 3 is comprised.

The average roughness depth represents the mathematical average ofindividual roughness depths 26 to 30, which are determined in fiveadjoining individual measured sections of equal length 31. The averageroughness depth in the region of the surface 13 thus represents a mirrorimage of the average roughness depth of the dipping form 6.

The average roughness depth on the surface 12 of the slip coating9—which is deposited on the carrier layer 3 by means of the immersion ofthe dipping form 6 after a renewed short drying—is determined in thesame manner by means of the individual roughness depths 26 to 30 in fiveadjoining individual measured sections of equal length 31.

However, the shape deviations 19 and 20 in this surface 12 are noweither not influenced at all by the surface morphology of the dippingform 6 or are influenced by it to a reduced extent in accordance withthe selected process, and are instead constituted by means of themanufacturing process during the production of the slip coating 9.

In the end view of the glove 4 in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the entiresurface 12 that comprises the inside of the glove 4 is provided withcorresponding shape deviations 19, 20 in accordance with the abovedescription.

Moreover, for example, the underside 11 that comprises the outside ofthe glove 4 is provided with corresponding shape deviations 14, i.e. aroughening, only in the region that comes to rest over the inner surfaceof the hand, in order for example to improve grip security primarilywhen the gloves are used to grasp tools in the medical field or also inthe assembly field. Naturally, it is also conversely possible to equipthe entire underside 11, that is, the entire external surface of theglove 4, with corresponding shape deviations 14 and with a roughnesscomprised by means of this. The degree to which the section or a partialarea of the section 18 is provided with shape deviations 14 or aroughening can be determined by the embodiment of the dipping form 6, inparticular its surface roughness.

For the sake of increased clarity, this manufacturing process, whichproduces the average roughness depth shown schematically and completelyout of proportion in the drawings in FIGS. 2 and 3, is explained indetail in conjunction with the schematically represented course of theprocess for manufacturing this kind of an article 1 or glove 4 by meansof individual, successive apparatuses and apparatus parts represented inFIGS. 4 and 5.

To manufacture preferably powder-free gloves 4 out of a latex product 2,a number of dipping forms 6 are disposed on a form carrier 32 and arecomprised, for example, of porcelain, plastic, metal, aluminum, or thelike, with a surface 13 that has the desired shape deviations 14 inaccordance with the above-indicated average roughness depth, whiledipping forms 33 are disposed on the form carrier that have a smoothsurface for the subsequent outside of a glove 4 to be manufactured outof latex.

The form carrier 32 is oriented toward a dipping basin in which anaqueous coagulation solution 35 is disposed. As has already beenindicated by way of introduction, this can be comprised of calciumnitrate, polyethylene glycol and a water soluble silicone type or chalk.As indicated by the arrow 36, the form carrier 32 is dipped into thedipping basin 34, then removed from it in accordance with the arrow 37and if need be, after an intermediary drying—as symbolically indicatedby a hot air blower 38 and the arrows 39 that schematically representthe air heated for drying—are conveyed to another dipping basin 41 inaccordance with the dotted lines 40.

Naturally, within the scope of this process according to the invention,it is left up to one skilled in the art as to whether the dipping of thedipping forms 6 or the form carrier 32 always takes place in the samedipping basin 34 and this basin is alternatingly filled with coagulationsolution 35 or the latex product 45 or arbitrary other fluids or mediumsvia an inlet 42 and a discharge 43, e.g. via a schematically representedpump 44, or whether a number of dipping basins 34, 41, 46, 47, 48, 49,50 are provided which are disposed in succession. It is also possiblethat the dipping of the dipping forms 6 is carried out by a relativemovement of an arbitrary type between the form carrier 32 and thedipping basin 24, 41, and 46 to 50. Naturally, it is also possible thatprimarily the treatment steps or process steps in which the articles 1or gloves 4 are already removed from the dipping forms 6, 33, arecarried out in rotating containers, for example drums or the like, suchas the ones used in conventional washing machines and driers, in orderto move them during the treatment by means of constant rotation of thedrum in order to also prevent the articles 1 or gloves 4 from stickingto each other during production.

Since all of these different possibilities for carrying out the processare known to one skilled in the art from the broad prior art, thedepiction of the different devices for carrying out the individual stepsof the process are eliminated and these are only explained inconjunction with the purely schematic representations in FIGS. 4 and 5.

After this intermediate drying of the coagulant or the coagulationsolution 35 that is carried out if necessary, the dipping forms 6 aredipped into the dipping basin 41 so that the dipping forms 6 and 33 aredipped completely below a fluid level 51 of a latex product 45 ofarbitrary composition, as previously indicated. The dipping forms 6remain in the dipping basin 41 until a desired layer thickness of fluidlatex product 45 can adhere to the surface of the dipping forms 6 or tothe layer comprised of coagulation solution 35. To that end, it is alsopossible that the dipping forms 6, 33 are lifted out of the dippingbasin 41 and dipped back into it several times.

Then, a short intermediary drying of the latex product 45 on the dippingforms 6, 33 is carried out in accordance with the dotted line 40, forexample with hot air at the additional hot air blower 38, for whichpurpose the air can have a temperature from 70 to 140° C., preferably 90to 110° C. and the dipping forms 6 can be exposed to this hot air for 15to 60 sec. Preferably, the duration of hot air exposure and thetemperature of the hot air are controlled so that on its surface, thelayer of fluid latex product 45 passes from the liquid state into thegelatinous or solid state.

After that, the form carrier 32 with the dipping forms 6, 33, inaccordance with the arrows 36, 37, is dipped into the dipping basin 46in which a polymeric material 10 for producing the slip coating 9 isdisposed. At this point, for the sake of clarity, it should be mentionedthat it is naturally possible to adapt the viscosity of the polymericmaterial 10 or naturally also the viscosity of the latex product 45 orthe coagulation solution 35 to the desired properties through theaddition of one or more viscosity regulators which, to one skilled inthe art, are known from the prior art in different embodiments. As aresult, it is possible to adapt the viscosity of the products ormaterials, which are usually in the form of dispersions, to the desiredemployment purpose in order to achieve corresponding layer thicknesseswhen dipping or to achieve a uniform depositing of the various materialson a surface of the dipping forms 6, 33. For the sake of clarity, itshould be mentioned at this point that in the current description, theterm “latex” has been constantly used independently of whether itconcerns a dispersion of this material, the hardened, dried,cross-linked layer, or the solid phase of this material, even if, forexample in the case of natural latex, this substance is usually calledcaoutchouc. It would therefore also be possible to refer to the layers,which are comprised of the individual materials mentioned above, ascaoutchouc layers. This polymeric material 10 can be composed inaccordance with the preceding data.

After the form carrier 32 with the dipping forms 6, 33 is lifted out ofthe dispersion comprised of polymeric material to produce the slipcoating 9, this additionally deposited slip coating 9, as schematicallyindicated, is dried with hot air, for example at a temperature between70 and 140° C., preferably 90 to 110° C., for a period of 15 to 60 sec.Preferably, the temperature and the duration of the hot air treatmentare modulated so that the surface of the slip coating 9 passes over intoa gelatinous or solid state.

Immediately after this, the dipping forms 6, 33 with the raw parts ofthe articles 1 or gloves 4 disposed on them are dipped into anotherdipping basin 47 in which the slip coating 9 is sprayed or rinsed withhot water 52. To that end, the hot water 52 can be circulated throughthe dipping basin 47 by means of a pump 44 belonging to a heatingfurnace or a heat exchanger 53, by means of which the air is kept at adesired temperature between 40 and 95° C., preferably from 70 to 90° C.

The chemical reaction in the slip coating 9 and the carrier layer 3 isinitiated or supported by means of this treatment with hot water 52 sothat it leads to a beginning or to a complete coagulation in this layer.

After this hot water treatment, which can last from 15 sec. to 8 min.,preferably 30 sec. to 4 min., the articles 1 or the gloves 4, in theposition in which they are put on the dipping forms 6, 33, are removedfrom the dipping basin 47 so that the remaining water 52 can drain off.

FIG. 5 shows the continuation of the course of the process in accordancewith the line V—V in FIG. 4. The gloves 4 removed from the water 52 areleft in the open for a period of 10 to 180 sec., preferably 20 to 50sec., which time serves as a draining period, or are dried by hot air,before they are acted upon by means of an infrared radiation in thedipping basin, in this instance a warming cabinet or heating furnace, sothat the carrier layer 3 and the slip coating 9 are permanently fixed.The radiation surfaces 54 for the infrared radiation, which arepreferably embodied as stove tiles, have a temperature between 350 and700° C., and the articles 1 or gloves 4 are exposed to infraredradiation indicated schematically by the arrows 55 for a period of timebetween 1 and 5 min. To this end, it is necessary that by means of thedipping basin 48 or a corresponding drying device, the ambient air, inaccordance with the schematically indicated arrows 57, can be blownthrough the heating chamber or the dryer or the dipping basin 48 bymeans of a ventilator 56.

After the drying of the articles 1 or the gloves 4, the dipping forms 6,33, as shown in FIG. 5, are dipped with their form carriers 32 into thedipping basin 49, in which a parting compound 58, for example a powdersuch as talcum, chalk or cornstarch powder, or a silicon emulsion isdisposed which, when the articles 1 or the gloves 4 are subsequentlyremoved from the dipping forms 6, 33, and are simultaneously turnedinside-out, should prevent the surfaces 12 oriented toward the dippingbasins 34, 41, and 46 to 48 from sticking together.

After being removed, the articles 1 or the raw pieces of the gloves 4are placed, for example, in a transport basket 59, which can also beshaped like a grating or can be provided with through openings, and thistransport basket 59 is placed in the dipping basin 50 in which a bleach60 is disposed, whose composition is known from the prior art. Forexample, a 0.5% sodium hypochloride mixed with approx. 0.2% hydrochloricacid can be used.

After the treatment with the bleach 60, the articles 1 or the gloves 4are washed at least once, preferably several times, though, with wateror with fluids known from the prior art, in order to remove the residuesof bleaches or acids from e.g. separate treatments with acids andbleaches.

When this washing process is finished, the articles 1 or the gloves areplaced with the transport basket 59 into a dipping basin 48 or into adrying chamber, in which heating elements 61 can be disposed either inthe drying chamber or in an air intake duct for the air drying, so thatthe drying is carried out by means of air, schematically represented byarrows 62, which can be conveyed through the interior of the dryingchamber via the ventilator 56 or a blower.

Naturally, any other form of drying is also possible, for example byusing drums or the like. When a drying chamber of this kind is used, itis preferably possible to blow a silicone emulsion into the air flow viaan additional line 63 in accordance with the arrow 64 shown, in order,for example, to coat the surfaces that constitute the outside of theglove 4 and if need be, those that constitute its inside, with siliconenear or at the end of the drying process. Naturally, however, it is alsopossible to deposit this silicone coating in particular sections of theslip zones or the surface 12 or 13 in a likewise known manner by meansof the dipping process in emulsions or by means of spray application.

With the above-described process, the roughness according to theinvention or the average roughness depth in the slip coating 9 isachieved by virtue of the fact that while the slip coating 9 is beingacted upon by the hot water 52, or immediately thereafter, 40 to 70%,preferably 50 to 60% of the water content is removed from the slipcoating 9. Due to the rapid removal of water, relatively high surfacetensions are produced in the region of the slip coating 9 and this leadsto a lowering or reduction of the thickness of the slip coating 9 shownin FIG. 1, which can be between 2 and 80 μm, preferably from 2 to 30 μm,and corresponds, for example, to the depth 24 in FIG. 1, at which theshape deviation 19 is so large that it extends over the entire thicknessof the slip coating 9, i.e. down to the top side 8 of the carrier layer3.

These regions with reduced wall thickness of the slip coating 9 comprisethe shape deviations 19, 20, which are to a large extent encompassed bythe net-like structure 23 or its intermediary pieces 21, 22. Theseraised intermediary pieces 21, 22 of the net-like structure 23 cause thearticle 1 or the glove 4 to lie against the surface of human skin onlyalong the intermediary pieces, and on the one hand, the area of contactwith the skin is significantly reduced and on the other hand, theslipperiness, in particular the wet slipperiness, is considerablyincreased as a result. At the same time, cavities are produced in thisway, which can also absorb the sweat produced during work so that thewearing comfort of this kind of articles 1 or gloves 4 is alsoconsiderably improved.

This improved slip effect can be increased even further by additionallydepositing a layer of silicone, for example by means of immersion into asilicone emulsion or by means of charging the drying air with a siliconemulsion.

If the articles 1 or gloves 4 are supplied in loose form to a bleachingprocess for bleaching the side remote from the dipping bath when theslip coating 9 is being deposited, which side then comprises the outsideof the article 1 or glove 4, then as a result, the slipperiness of thearticle 1 or the glove 4 can be still further improved.

After the drying process has been carried out in the dipping basin 50,the gloves 4 are then sorted together into pairs and supplied to otherprocessing procedures such as sterilization and packaging.

The roughness according to the invention, though, can also be increasedby means of many other known processes.

The simplest method for roughening articles 1 in addition to theroughness depth required by manufacture is comprised in that the dippingform 6, 33 which is covered with the still-soft article 1 or the slipcoating 9, is conveyed, for example, through a sandblasting chamber orthrough a fluidized bed with fine glass beads. Excess particles from theblasting process usually have to be completely removed in subsequentsteps of the process.

Finally, in conjunction with a section through a glove 4 disposed on adipping form 33, FIG. 6 shows that through the use of the dippingprocess, first a coagulation solution 35 is deposited on the surfacethat is for example embodied as smooth, followed by a latex product 45,whereupon the slip coating 9 is applied by dipping or spraying.

Through a corresponding embodiment of the devices for pressing theaverage roughness depth or the shape deviation 19, 20 into the surface12, for example the above-mentioned glass beads or a correspondingpressing die can be used to produce additional roughening in the partialareas 65 to 68, before the manufacture of the above-describedroughenings because of the shape deviations 19, 20.

For example, these partial areas extend only over a part of thehorizontal faces of the article 1 that rest against the hand of theuser. As a result, a sufficient wet slipperiness is achieved without theentire article being too severely weakened since in many cases, a highdegree of slipperiness only has to be produced on those surfaces actedupon by an initial tension for the purpose of firmly seating the article1 on a body part of the user. Within the scope of the invention, it isnaturally also possible that by means of corresponding arrangements, forexample the partial depositing of parting compounds or the like beforethe slip coating 9 is deposited, the slip coating 9 or at least theshape deviations 19, 20 are also produced on only one partial area or onindividual partial areas 65 to 68.

Furthermore, the depiction in FIG. 6 shows that the carrier layer 3,which is comprised of the coagulation solution 35 and the latex product45, can have a thickness 69 of 100 μm to 300 μm.

In contrast, the slip coating 9 disposed on this carrier layer 3 has,for example, a thickness 70 of 2 μm to 80 μm, preferably 2 μm to 30 μm.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of a part of the surface 12 of the slip coating9 of an article 1. This depiction very clearly shows the net-likestructure 23, which is comprised by means of the intermediate pieces 21,22 and encompasses the shape deviations 19, 20.

This depiction is a 100-fold enlargement of the surface 12 of the slipcoating 9, produced by an electron microscope.

The variants described in the preceding figures as to choice of materialfor the carrier layer 3 and the slip coatings 9 can be usedinterchangeably. Naturally, the individual exemplary embodimentsdescribed above, the variants shown in these exemplary embodiments, anddifferent embodiments can each constitute independent inventiveembodiments in and of themselves and can be arbitrarily combined withone another. Pimarily, the individual embodiments characterized in FIGS.1-7 can constitute the subject of independent embodiments according tothe invention. The objects and embodiments according to the inventionwith regard to this can be inferred from the detailed descriptions ofthese figures.

For the sake of clarity, is should be emphasized that for improvedcomprehension of the invention, the individual exemplary embodimentshave been represented in a form that is partially distorted in scale orhave been shown in enlarged fashion. Individual features of thecombinations of features shown in the individual exemplary embodiments,all constitute embodiments according to the invention that areindependent in and of themselves.

Reference Numeral List 1 article 2 latex product 3 carrier layer 4 glove5 polymer 6 dipping form 7 section 8 top side 9 slip coating 10 material11 underside 12 surface 13 surface 14 shape deviation 15 space 16 space17 depth 18 section 19 shape deviation 20 shape deviation 21intermediary piece 22 intermediary piece 23 structure 24 depth 25 depth26 individual roughness depth 27 ind. roughness depth 28 ind. roughnessdepth 29 ind. roughness depth 30 ind. roughness depth 31 length 32 formcarrier 33 dipping form 34 dipping basin 35 coagulation solution 36arrow 37 arrow 38 hot air blower 39 arrow 40 line 41 dipping basin 42inlet 43 discharge 44 pump 45 latex product 46 dipping basin 47 dippingbasin 48 dipping basin 49 dipping basin 50 dipping basin 51 fluid level52 water 53 heat exchanger 54 radiation surface 55 arrow 56 ventilator57 arrow 58 parting compound 59 transport basket 60 bleach 61 heatingelement 62 arrow 63 line 64 arrow 65 partial area 66 partial area 67partial area 68 partial area 69 thickness 70 thickness

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible rubber or plastic article, comprising:a surface; a slip layer on at least a section of the surface, said sliplayer comprising polymeric material fixed on and integrally formed withsaid surface, said polymeric material of the slip layer comprising atleast one of natural latex and synthetic latex; the slip layer includingat least one partial area having a raised net-shaped structure and aplurality of recessed shape deviations having a spacing between adjacentshape deviations; the plurality of recessed shape deviations having aroughness depth in relation to the. raised net-shaped structure; a aratio of the average spacings between adjacent shape deviations to theirdepth is between about 500:1 and about 5:1; and the average roughnessdepth is between about 0.5 μm and about 100 μm.
 2. The flexible articleaccording to claim 1, wherein the average roughness depth is betweenabout 1 μm and about 40 μm.
 3. The flexible article according to claim1, the partial area including a surface area, and the recessed shapedeviations comprising between about 50% and about 90% of the surfacearea.
 4. The flexible article according to claim 3, the recessed shapedeviations comprising between about 60% and about 80% of the surfacearea.
 5. The flexible article according to claim 1, wherein the raisednet-shaped structure surrounds at least 50% of the shape deviations in atop view of the slip layer.
 6. The flexible article according to claim1, the polymeric material of the slip layer comprising a latex mixture.7. The flexible article according to claim 1, the polymeric material ofthe slip layer comprising polyurethane.
 8. The flexible articleaccording to claim 1, the polymeric material of the slip layercomprising at least one member selected from the group consisting ofpolyacrylates, polymethacrylates and polysiloxanes.
 9. The flexiblearticle according to claim 1, the slip layer comprising 0 to 30 wt. %polyurethane, 1 to 40 wt. % polyacrylate, 1 to 20 wt. % polysiloxane and0 to 40 wt. % filler.
 10. The flexible article according to claim 9, thefiller comprising at least one member selected from the group consistingof pulverized or powdered chalk, lime, cornstarch, silicon dioxide andgypsum.
 11. The flexible article according to claim 1, the polymericmaterial of the slip layer comprising water absorbing groups.
 12. Theflexible article according to claim 1, the polymeric material of theslip layer comprising intensely hydrophilic groups.
 13. The flexiblearticle according to claim 12, the hydrophilic groups comprise at leastone member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, acrylate and methacrylate.
 14. The flexible articleaccording to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material of the slip layerhas high surface adhesion.
 15. The flexible article according to claim14, wherein the polymeric material of the slip layer is notcross-linked.
 16. The flexible article according to claim 1, the sliplayer comprising roughened regions that include silicone deposits. 17.The flexible article according to claim 1, the slip layer comprisingsilicone deposits.
 18. The flexible article according to claim 17,wherein the silicone deposits comprise an amount between about 0.05 g/m²and about 3 g/m² on the at least a section of the surface.
 19. Theflexible article according to claim 18, wherein the silicone depositscomprise an amount of about 0.25 g/m² on the at least a section of thesurface.
 20. The flexible article according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a sleeve-shaped carrier layer; the sleeve-shaped carrierlayer including an inner surface; and the inner surface of the carrierlayer including the slip layer.
 21. The flexible article according toclaim 1, further comprising: a sleeve-shaped carrier layer; thesleeve-shaped carrier layer including an outer surface; and the outersurface of the carrier layer including the slip layer.
 22. The flexiblearticle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sectionshaving lower relative movement between the surface of the article and auser's skin, wherein the average roughness depth between the recessedshape deviations and the raised net-shaped structure is lower in theplurality of sections having lower relative movement.
 23. The flexiblearticle according to claim 1, further comprising: a carrier layer; thecarrier layer including at least one layer; the at least one layerincluding a polymer; and the polymer including at least one of naturallatex and synthetic latex.
 24. The flexible article according to claim23, further comprising: the polymer of the at least one layer beingslightly cross-linked; and the slip layer being disposed on the carrierlayer.
 25. The flexible article according to claim 23, comprising thepolymer of the at least one layer being pre-cross-linked.
 26. Theflexible article according to claim 1; comprising: a carrier layer; thecarrier layer including an aqueous solution of a coagulant; and theaqueous solution of a coagulant comprising at least one member selectedfrom the group consisting of calcium nitrate, polyethylene glycol, awater soluble silicone or chalk, and a pre-cross-linked natural latexmixture.
 27. The flexible article according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a carrier layer; and the carrier layer including apre-cross-linked synthetic latex.
 28. The flexible article according toclaim 27, the pre-cross-linked synthetic latex comprising at least onemember selected from the group consisting of chloroprene latex, NBRlatex, X-NBR latex and SBR latex.
 29. The flexible article according toclaim 1, further comprising: a sleeve-shaped carrier layer; and thesleeve-shaped carrier layer including an inner surface and an outersurface.
 30. The flexible article according to claim 1, furthercomprising: the flexible article including an inner surface and an outersurface; the inner surface of the article including the at least asection of the surface having the slip layer.
 31. The flexible articleaccording to claim 30, the flexible article comprising a glove.
 32. Theflexible article according to claim 1, further comprising: an innersurface and an outer surface; and the outer surface of the flexiblearticle including the at least a section of the surface having the sliplayer.
 33. The flexible article according to claim 32, the flexiblearticle comprising a glove.
 34. The flexible article according to claim1, further comprising: a carrier layer; the carrier layer including asurface; and the surface of the carrier layer being chlorinated.
 35. Theflexible article according to claim 34, the chlorinated surfacecomprising a plurality of deformations composed of raised edge regions,wherein the plurality of raised edge regions protrude above aneighboring surface by a height of about 0.5 μm to about 10 μm.
 36. Theflexible article according to claim 35, wherein the raised edge regionsprotrude above the neighboring surface by a height of about 1 μm orless.
 37. The flexible article according to claim 1, further comprisingan inner surface, wherein the inner surface includes at least one of acoating of silicone and a treatment with chlorine.
 38. The flexiblearticle according to claim 1, the flexible article comprising a rubberglove.
 39. The flexible article according to claim 38, the rubber glovecomprising a medical glove.
 40. The flexible article according to claim1, the flexible article comprising a condom.
 41. The flexible articleaccording to claim 38, the rubber glove comprising an inner surface, andthe inner surface including the slip layer.
 42. The flexible articleaccording to claim 41, the rubber glove comprising a medical glove. 43.The flexible article according to claim 41, further comprising: theinner surface of the rubber glove including a region oriented toward apalm of a hand and a region oriented toward a back of the hand; theregion oriented toward the palm of the hand including the slip layer;and the region oriented toward the back of the hand including the sliplayer.
 44. The flexible article according to claim 42, furthercomprising: the inner surface of the medical glove including a regionoriented toward a palm of a hand and a region oriented toward a back ofthe hand; the region oriented toward the palm of the hand including theslip layer; and the region oriented toward the back of the handincluding the slip layer.
 45. The flexible article according to claim30, further comprising: the outer surface including a plurality of shapedeviations having a spacing between adjacent shape deviations; theplurality of shape deviations having a depth in relation to the outersurface; a ratio of the spacings between adjacent shape deviations totheir depth is between about 100:1 and about 5:1; and an averageroughness depth is between about 0.5 μm and about 100 μm.
 46. Theflexible article according to claim 45, wherein the average roughnessdepth is between about 1 μm and about 40 μm.